TJ's A kicked off the defence of their league title with a hard fought win over a new looking Carrickcruppen side. TJs have lost the services of Kieran McMahon who has returned to CWC & the young potting sensation Declan Brennan has headed off to Manchester to try and crack the professional ranks of the world snooker scene. TJs have signed Killeavy hero Stevie Teggart & Darren Devlin of Bosco. Both excellent players who would be an asset to any team.Last years individual runner-up Raymie McKenna got the hosts TJs off to the perfect start and Declan McMahon doubled that lead.Marty Lavelle pulled one back for Carrickcuppen but Manny Byrne who is in fine form restored the champions' 2 frame lead with some wonderful pool for 3-1The experienced Martin McVeigh returned to the Newry pool league to pull a frame back against his old TJs A side to make the score 3-2. With the pressure on Tristan Byrne ensured TJs would take at least a point from the match and it was 4-2. When Pat Byrne found some superb pots he reduced the arrears to the minimum 4-3.Captain Declan McConville was up against Ian McDonald in the last match & it was Dodi McConville that won the final battle to secure both points for TJs A and a fine start for the defending champions.

Elsewhere a new look Sheepbridge side which boasts a host of big names in their squad will be gutted after throwing away a 3-0 lead against a new look McGuigans team. Harvey Lavelle, Paddy Clarke & Pat Brady ( yes thee Pat Brady) fired Sheepbridge into a stunning 3-0 lead with wins over Paul McAreavey, Brian Campbell & Kieran Hanna. Yes folks what a way to start. Rumour has it Harvey is going back to Carrickcruppen after his team that is supposed to challenge the mighty TJs A for the title this year crumbled on Monaghan Street on Thurs night !Gerard McGuigan hit back for McGuigans followed by Brendan Healey and the super Daniel McGuigan to level up by beating Conor O'Hare, Bernie Magee, & Paddy Tavey.Ciaran Hanna who's been playing a lot of pool lately fired McGuigans In front when he beat Collie Loughran. Damien Flanaghan was the toast of McGuigans when he claimed both points with a superb win over the experienced Niall Mc verryIt was a bitter pill to swallow for Harvey and his shell-shocked men but it won't be long before this side is making their presence felt.

Whitecross had the biggest win in the Premier Division thrashing rivals Orchard Bar 7-1 in their own back yard. Cathal Phelan & Gavin Malone gave the visitors a surprise 2-0 lead. Lee Irvine pulled one back for the Orchard bar as newly signed Martin O'Callaghan, Michael Feenan, Gareth McCann, Paddy O'Callaghan and Mickey O'Hanlon gave the South Armagh side a stunning victory.

A new look Hustlers side had a hard fought match up in Killeavey. Life without Stevie Teggart started tough for Killeavey when the found themselves 2-0 down thanks to wins for Shane McAllister & Billy O'Neill.Stephen Cunningham & Darren O'Hanlon drew the match level for the South Armagh side with some great pool.After Kevin Magee's defeat for Hustlers the pressure was on Damien Kearney but he played well to give the Newry side a 3-2 lead. The experienced Pat Quinn had a titanic battle with Tucker Hughes but Quinn came out on top for 3-3.Paddy McCann was in fine form for Killeavy and he gave his side the lead for the first time seeing off a plucky John Lyttle. It was all down to the final frame and we all know Cathal McCoy talks a good game and on this occasion he produced the goods seeing off Sean Og Duffy with some super pool.

After a terrific start to the new season here in the blog we can't wait to see how these new teams perform and can Kieran Hanna cope with his newly formed squad and the pressure to win next week as we all know loose 2 in a row and its the side lines for the captain .As can be seen on the website Whitecross sit proudly top of the league on frame difference after the first week but how long can they stay there?